Switch-tongue operating and retaining device.



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N; BURNS.

SWITGH TONGUE OPERATING AND RETAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.21,1906'.

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- PATENTED MAY 14,1907

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N. BURNS.

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SWITCH TONGUE OPER ATINGAND RETAININ APPLIOATION FILED DEO.21,1906.

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UNITED S TES PE 'p FFICE.

NICHOLAS BURNS, OF JOHNSTOVVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LORAIN STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-TONGUE OPERATING AND RETAINING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed December 21,1906. Serial No. 348,878-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS BURNS, of Johnstown, inj the county of Oambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch-Tongue Operating and Retaining Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in a switch tongue operating and retaining device, and is designed to provide a simple and efficient means whereby the tongue of the switch is held in either of its two running positions against accidental displacement, also to provide means whereby the switch may be converted into a right or left hand throw spring switch, and the tongue held in either one of the two running positions by the action of a spring.

Another object of my invention is, to so arrange the levers and spring that no oscillatory or lateral movement is given to the spring or its adjusting devices, such movement being performed by spring pressed levers. The only movement given to the spring is one of compression. As is well known in structures of this character, the top of the box in which the mechanism is contained, is on a level with the street and the box soon becomes clogged with dirt. Therefore, it will readily be seen that a flat lever will cut through the dirt more readily than the spring and its adjusting mechanism.

Still another object of my invention is, to so arrange the parts that the switch can be converted into a right hand throw spring switch or back to a two-way spring retained tongue without the removal of bolts, pins, or

inserting levers of a different length, and

without re-adjusting the spring. The difference in the length of the levers is taken up by the positions of the fulcrums, so as to keep the length of the spring the same irrespective of position.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in the combination with a movable switch tongue or point, of a spring under compression between two levers, and a pair of toggle levers connecting the other ends of the levers with a projection from the tongue, the whole being so arranged that the action ing had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1, is a plan view of my invention applied to a switch structure, the device being adjusted to retain the tongue in either of the two extreme or running positions; Fig. 2, is an enlarged view of the mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a'view similar to Fig. 2, but adjusted to transfer the cars over the straight track keeping the curve normally closed; Fig. 4, is a section on the line IVIV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, is a section on the line VV of Fig. 1. v

The numeral 1, designates the body portion of the switch structure, and 2, the tongue or point pivoted at 3 to the switch structure. Integral with'the tongue 2 is a lug or projection 4.

-5, is a box or casing which is secured to the switch structure in any manner. Integral with the sides of the box 5 or secured thereto,

are the projections 6, 6, each of which is provided with the indentations a, b and c, the indents a and 0 being the same depth, while the indents b are'slightly deeper for the purpose hereinafter described.

7, 7, are horizontal levers each having the projection 8 on which it is fulcrumed. This projection 8 rests in either of the indents a, b or c. The top and bottom of the projections are provided with the lips 9, 9, the distance between the lips, or the thickness of the levers 7 at this point is about equal to the height of the projections 6, 6, the object of these lips is to retain the levers 7, 7, in their proper horizontal plane.

Pivotally connected to one end of each of the levers 7, 7, is a toggle lever 10. The other end of each of the toggle-levers 10, 10, is pivotally connected to one end of the ad justable rod 11, the other end of the rod is secured to the lug 4, on the tongue 2. Interposed between the o posite ends of the levers 7, 7, is the adjustable spring 12.

The box 5 is provided. with the flange 13, on which the cover 14 is seated.

When it is desired to adjust the retaining mechanism to hold the tongue 2 in either of its extreme running positions, the mechanism is adjusted as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It will readily be understood by reference to the drawings that if the tongue is shifted so as to open the curve, and close the straight track, the movement of the tongue will draw the rod 11, and oscillate the levers 7, 7, through the medium of the toggle levers 10, 10, the spring 12 will be compressed until the toggle levers reach their central or straight position, immediately after this position is reached, and the toggle-levers have passed the center, the spring 12 will expand and force the tongue to the extreme osition to open the switch for the curve, an close it for the straight track, and will hold the tongue in such position.

IVhen it is desired to adjust the retaining mechanism, to normally hold the tongue 2 in the position shown inFig. 1, so that the switch is set to carry all cars along the straight track, the adjusting is done in the following manner :A bar or lever is inserted between one of the levers 7, and the side of the box 5, the bar bearing on the flange 13. The inserted bar is rocked, thereby compressing the spring 12 and raising the projection 8 out of engagement with the indent b, the bar is then rocked sidewise, so as to shift the projection 8 into the indent a. The same oper ation is repeated with the lever 7 on the opposite side of the box. This will lace the mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 3. As can be seen by reference to the drawings, that if a car were to trail the switch running from the curve to the straight track, the flanges of the wheels would force the tongue over, compressing the spring 12 through the medium of the various connections, but as soon as the flanges of the wheels have passed the point of the tongue, the spring will force the tongue to its initial positlon, as the full throw of the tongue is not sufficient to carry the toggle-levers to their central position.

If it is desired to adjust the retaining mechanism so as to normally retain the tongue in a position opposite to that shown in Fig. 1, so that the switch is set to carry all cars from the straight track to the curve, the projections 8 on the levers 7 are placed in the indents c, c.

As can be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the indents b, b, are of a greater depth than the indents a, a, and c, c, the object of this is as follows: When the levers 7, 7, are fulcrumed in the indents b, b, the togglelevers assume almost a straight position, and when the levers 7, 7, are fulcrumed in the indents a, a, or c, c, the toggle-levers are considerably inclined. This will draw the levers 7, 7, toward each other at the toggle end, and spread them at the spring end. If the indents were of the same depth, the s ring 12 would be expanded to a considerab e degree but by varying the depth of the indents a, a, and c, c, with relation to the depth of positions by a laborer, without any re-adjusting Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, a spring, and a pair of toggle levers connecting the tongue With the oppositely disposed levers.

2. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, a spring interposed between the ends of the levers, and a pair of togglelevers connecting the other ends of the levers with the tongue.

3. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, a spring, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the laterally projecting rod of the tongue with the oppositely disposed levers.

4. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting adjustable rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, a spring, and a pair of togglelevers connecting the adjustable rod with the oppositely disposed. levers.

5. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, a spring interposed betweenthe ends of the lovers, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the other ends of the levers with the laterally projecting rod.

6. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, means whereby each lever may be fulcrumed in any one of three different positions, a spring, and a pair of toggle levers connect- .ing the tongue with the oppositely disposed levers.

7. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, means whereby each lever may be fulcrumed in any one of three difierent positions, a spring interposed between the ends of the levers, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the other ends of the levers with the tongue.

8. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers,

means whereby each lever may be fulcrumed in any one of three different positions, a spring, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the laterally projecting rod of the tongue with the oppositely disposed levers.

9. In a switch retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting adjustable rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, means whereby each lever may be fulcrumed in any one of three difierent positions, a spring, and a pair of toggle levers connecting the adjustable rod with the oppositely disposed levers.

10. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, means whereby each lever may be fulcrumed in any one of three different positions, a spring interposed between the ends of the levers, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the other ends of the levers with the laterally projecting rod.

11. In a switch tongue retaining mechan ism, a tongue, a pair of oppositely disposed levers having three fulcrum positions, two of the fulcrum positions being in alinement with each other but out of alinement with the third fulcrum position, a spring, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the tongue with the oppositely disposed levers.

12. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue, a pair of oppositely disposed levers having three fulcrum positions, two of the fulcrum positions being in alinement with each other, but out of alinement with the third fulcrum position, a spring interposed between the ends of the levers, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the other ends of the levers with the tongue.

13. In a switch retaining mechanism, a

tongue having a laterally projecting rod, a

pair of oppositely disposed levers having three fulcrum positions, two of the fulcrum positions being in alinement with each other but out of alinement with the third fulcrum position, a spring, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the laterally projecting rod of the tongue with the oppositely disposed levers.

14. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting adjustable rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers having three fulcrum positions, two of the fulcrum positions being in alinement with each other but out of alinement with the third fulcrum position, a spring, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the adjustable rod with the oppositely disposed levers.

15. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting,

rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers having three fulcrum positions, two of the fulcrum positions being in alinement with each other but out of alinement with the third fulcrum position, a spring interposed between the ends of the levers, and a pair of togglelevers connecting the other ends of the levers with the laterally projecting rod. 1, i 16. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue, a pair of oppositely disposed levers the fulcrum of each lever comprising a lug with an indent therein, a projection on the lever entering the indent, the projection being provided with lips which straddle the.

lug, a spring, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the tongue with the oppositely disposed levers.

17. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, the fulcrum of each lever comprising a lug with an indent therein, a projection on the lever entering the indent, and the proj ection being provided with lips which straddle the lug, a spring interposed between the ends of the levers, and a air of toggle-levers connecting the other en s of the levers with the tongue.

18. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, the fulcrum of .each lever comprising a lug with an indent therein, a projection on the lever entering the indent, and the projection being provided with lips which straddle the lug, a spring, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting t e laterally projecting rod of the tongue with the oppositely disposed levers.

19. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting adjustable rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, the fulcrum of each lever comprising a lug with an indent therein, a projection on the lever entering the indent, and the projection being provided with lips which straddle the lug, a spring, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the adjustable rod with theoppositely disposed levers.

20. In a switch tongue retaining mechanism, a tongue having a laterally projecting rod, a pair of oppositely disposed levers, the fulcrum of each lever comprising a lug with an indent therein, a projection on the lever entering the indent, and the projection being provided with lips which straddle the lug, a spring interposed between the ends of the levers, and a pair of toggle-levers connecting the other ends of the levers with the laterally projecting rod.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witneses:

NICHOLAS BURNS.

WVitnesses En. OCoNNoR, v H. W. SMITH. 

